Messages

Earlier this year Centro were the most successful bidder to the DfT Better Bus Area which will see a transformation of the bus network facilities around Brierley Hill Town Centre.
Amongst the benefits are:

On Vehicle Displays (Talking Buses) on strategic routes, which are:
- 002 Merry Hill - Weoley Castle
- 81 Merry Hill - Wolverhampton via Dudley
- 222 Merry Hill - Dudley
- 226 Merry Hill - Dudley
- 246 Stourbridge - Dudley
- 255 Merry Hill - Wolverhampton
- 297 Halesowen - Stickley via Merry Hill
- X96 Wollaston - Wrens Nest via Merry Hill and Dudley

Don't know whether they are about to withdraw Hanson 0315, but it was on the 251 today without it's destination display, instead 251 was printed on a piece of paper!

I caught a Green 558 on Tuesday morning and was surprised at the amount of people that caught it, mostly fair paying taking advantage of the £1 fare. However there were complaints that it was not a step free bus and there was no room for pushchairs unless you folded them!

Was on a Green Bus 558 journey today and a woman got on and asked for a 50p fare (she had a nxwm travelcard). The driver told her he had no change, so she just gave him the £1 coin.

Later on in the journey, a couple of people got on and paid with change, yet the driver never made any effort to give the woman her change.

Surely this is not right!!!

So what if you make multiple journey's in one day?

The Oyster Card in London will cap your fare so you never pay more than a One Day travelcard!

Isn't it time that the West Midlands became more like London and had just one operator per service. and that operator took on ALL services, even the loss making ones. Surely you would then get a better service.

If you look at the 16 service between Birmingham & Hamstead, what fun is it to have NXWM, Diamond and GRS all chasing each other round all day!

What about Brooks Holloway on the 298/9, used to be a real pain for the D9's and Drews Holloway/Windmill Hill on the 9!

The Birmingham Coach Company used to operate balancing journies on the 311 after their vehicles had finished operating in Stourbridge

Thanks Rob

With the Conservatives due in town next week, is Broad Street still going to be available to buses as i can't find anything anywhere to say they are not??

Was at Gornal Wood bus station today, and the timetable cases still have details of the 297B even though it no longer runs!!!

Caught sight of a Diamond running card for the 404 yesterday, informing drivers on the early journey's from Walsall, if possible, to wait for the next Diamond bus to arrive before departing!

Is this another case of Diamond trying to use there own rules, delay the customers on one bus to ensure there is always a Diamond bus on Bradford Place!!!

Is Tram 01 ever used these days, never see it when i am out & about?

Sorry Winston, only just noticed you had already suggested it!!

It does make sense, many other areas have there own limited stop services into Birmingham, why not Stourbridge, Merry Hill & Dudley!!!

How about a limited stop service between Stourbridge and Birmingham, don`t think its ever been tried.

Would travel normal route to Halesowen, then take the dual carriage way to Quinton (avoiding Spies lane & Manor Lane) and then normal line of route to Birmingham.

Stops could be

Lye Cross
Colley Gate
Halesowen Bus Station
Quinton (Toby Carvery)
Bearwood (Kings Head)
Ivy Bush
Broad Street
Great Charles Street
Colmore Row

Would be favoured by Stourbridge commuters as the price of train travel between Stourbridge & Birmingham is becoming really expensive!!!